Press



Sept. 7, 1937. A, BYE|LE|N 2,091,961

PRESS Filed Sept. 18, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zhwentor p 1937- A. A. BYERLEIN 7 2,091,961

PRESS Filed Sept. 18, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Snnentor Gttorneg P 1937- A. A. BYERLEIN 2,091,961

PRESS Filed Sept. 18, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PRESS Arthur A. Byerleiri,

General Machinery Detroit, Mich., assignor to Corporation, Hamilton,

I Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application September 18, 1934, Serial No. 744,555

14 Claims.

This invention relates to power presses and more particularly to presses for drawing or forming sheet metal or the like.

One object of the invention isthe provision of a metal forming press having a plurality of slides adapted to carry the forming, dies, the slides being operated by mechanism which is comparatively simple and of economical con-. struction but arranged as to provide for the proper timed operation of the slides, the-press being so arranged that the assembly and disassembly of the parts can be readily effected.

Another object of the invention. is the provl sion of a press having a plurality of toggle operated slides driven from a common operating shaft so as to move in the same direction toward the work, the connections between the operating shaft and the toggle operating mechanismsof the two slides being constituted entirely of pivotally connected links and arms or levers.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a press having a slide mounted for reciprocato-ry movement in the press bed, the slide having a body portion which is longer than the distance between the side frame members of the press but which can be withdrawn from the press bed in an upward direction and removed through an opening provided in the press frame.

Another object of the invention is the proviv sion of a triple action press embodying a plurality of toggle operated die slides and lower die.

slide all driven in a symmetrical manner from a common crank shaft, provided in the upper portion of the press, by simple driving connections or levers.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description,

the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view looking at the front of a press embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation looking at the upper portion of the press;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken just above the press bed on the line 3-3 of' Fig. 5;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the lower portion of a press, shown partly in vertical section; I

Fig. 5 is a central transverse section taken through the lower portion of the press on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse sectionalview taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2 showing operating connection between the crank shaft and the,

r constituted of pivotally connected links and arms,

toggle system by means of which the inner slide is operated;

Fig. 7, is a vertical section taken on the line 'l--l of Fig. 2 showing the operating connection between thecrank shaft and the toggle system which operates the outer or blank holding slide;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the timed relationship of the slides; and I Fig. 9 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, through the front rock shaft.

Referring more particularly to the drawings by reference numerals, I0 designates generally the frame of a power press adapted for drawing or forming .metal sheets or the like. As shown herein, the press is of large size capable of forming very large sheets such as are used in the manufacture of automobile bodies. The frame Ill includes an upper arch member H, a pair of opposed side frames [2 and I3, and a bed M, the several parts of the frame being interconnected rigidly with one another by means of four vertical through bolts or rods 15, shown in Fig. 3. l

In the upper portion of the press is a slide l1, adapted to operate as a blank holder, this slide being guided for vertical reciprocatory movement in guides l8, provided on the frame sides l2 and l3. Within the slide I1 is a second upper slide l9, adapted to operate with a dwell in its movement in timed relationship with the operation of the blank holding slide H. The two slides ll and l9 are each operated by a set of toggle arms and connections therefrom to an operating-or crank shaft 20 which is rotatably mounted in the press frame in suitable bearing 2 I, indicated in Fig. 2. v

The operating connection" between the crank shaft 20 and the blank holder slide H, as illustrated in Figs. 1, '7, and 9, comprises a pair of parallel rock shafts 23 and 24, each mounted for oscillatoryrocking movement in bearings 25 provided .inthe arch of the press. The two rock shafts are of irregular form, as shown in Fig. 9, the rock, shaft 24 including as a part thereof the toggle arms 26 and 21 to which are pivotally connectedthe toggle links 28 and 29 respectively., The lower ends of the links 28 and 29 are pivotally connected to adjustable bracket members 30. which are vertically adjustable in the corner portions of the slide l1. Similarly arranged toggle arms 3| and levers 32 connect the opposite or rear portion of the slide I! to the rock'shaft 23 as indicated in Fig. 7.

At the. center portion of each of the rock shafts 23 and 24 are projectingarms 33' and 34 respectively, which are pivotally connected to and operated by the two links 35 and 36. These, in turn, are pivotally connected to a double armed lever 31. The double armed lever 31 is suitably fixed to a short shaft 38 which is rotatably journalled in bearings 39 in the arch As Will be apparent from Fig. '7, the connections from the opposite ends of the lever 31 are symmetrically disposed with respect to the two rock shafts 23 and 24 so that movement of the lever 31 will cause similar and equal rocking movements of the two rock shafts in the same direction.

The double armed lever 31 has a downwardly projecting end 45 which is pivotally connected to a link 4|, pivoted in turn on the end of a rock lever 42, the supporting shaft 43 of which is provided in a bracket portion 44 of the press frame. Pivotally connected to the lever 42 is the crank pitman 45, the opposite end of which is mounted on a crank 46 provided centrally on the crank shaft 26.. The center of the crank shaft is thus connected by a simple system constituted entirely of links and rock members or arms to the two toggle shafts 23 and 24, the dead center positions of the various axes and link connections beingarranged for simultaneous alignment to provide a large dwell period for the slide IT, as indicated by the curve 1A in Fig. 8. Fig. '7 shows the variouspositions of the parts when the slide I1 is in its uppermost position, it being apparent that 180 counter-clockwise movement of the crank shaft, as viewed in Fig. 7, causes the rock shafts 23 and 24 to move about 90 degrees and bring the slide I! to its lowermost position.

The slide I9 is operated by toggle links 48 and 49 at the front portion of the press, these links being pivotally connected respectively to rock members 56 and 5| which are journalled for rocking movement in the rock shaft 24. The axis about which the rock members 50 and 5| are movable coincides with the axis of the rock shaft, the latter having an offset hood-like portion 52 near each end thereof affording a space in which a rock member is mounted, as by means of the stub shaft 53 which is journalled in suitable socket portions 54 provided in the rock shaft. The two rock members 5U'and 5| at the front of the press are, therefore, capable of movement independently of the movements of the rock shaft in which they are journalled, the hood-like portions 52 of the rock shaft serving to interconnect the central or body portion of the rock shaft and the end portions on which the arms 26 and 21 are provided. The rear portion of the slide I9 is 55 similarly connected to a pair of toggle links 57 rock shaft.

one of which is indicated in Fig. 6, the toggle links 51 being pivoted to individual rock members 56 which are independently journalled in the rock shaft 23 within the hood-like portions 58 of that The two rock members 50 and 56 which are provided respectively at the front and at the rear of the left-hand side of the press, as viewed in Fig. 1, are operated similarly in the same direction, independently of any direct connection to the rock shafts 23 and 24, by means of a double armed lever 60 one end of which is connected by a pivoted link 6| to the rock member 56 while the other end is connected by a pivoted link 62 to an extension 63 rigid with the rock member 5!! and received in the hood-like portion 52 of the rock shaft 24. The double armed lever 65, which is mounted for rocking movement coaxially with the short shaft 63, journalled in bearings 64,

is provided with a downward extension 65 which is pivotally connected to the upper end of the crank pitman 66 the other end of which is mounted for rocking movement on the crank 61 of crank shaft 25. As will be apparent from Fig. 6, counterclockwise movement of the crank shaft from the position shown, in which the slide is at its uppermost limit of travel, will move the double armed lever 60 clockwise through such angle as to cause about degrees movement of the rock members 50 and 56, thus moving the slide |9 to its lowermost position of travel and causing a considerable dwell at the lower limit of travel by reason of the alignment of the links 6| and 62 with the axis of movement of the double armed lever and by reason of the alignment of the togle arms and levers connected to the slide |9.

Mounted in the press frame and symmetrically arranged with respect to the disposition of the double armed lever 60 is a second double armed lever 68 as shown in Fig. 2, lever 68 being connected toa crank pitman 6B which has the same spacingv fromthe center of the crank shaft as the crank pitman 66. The double armed lever 68 is connected to operate the rock member 5| and the correspondingly. opposed rock member at the rear of the press in the same manner as illustrated in Fig. 6 so that the two doubled armed levers 6D and 68 are moved equally at the same time, and the four corners of the slide l9 are moved equally by a mechanism constituted entirely by pivotally connected links and arms or levers. Expensive motion transmitting slides with their carefully machined guides are therefore obviated, and a comparatively simple system is provided for symmetrically connecting the crank shaft in a balanced manner to the outer and inner slides I1 and I9 to give proper dwells to both of these slides so that the slide I! can descend first and operate as a blank holding member during the time the slide l9 descends and performs suitable draw or forming operation. The relative timing of the operation of the slides 9 is indicated by the curve |9A in Fig. 8. The slide reaches its lowermost position somewhat ahead of the slide l9, the crank 46 leading the crank 67 some suitable amount as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7 to provide the desired sequence in slide movements.

As shown in Fig. 1 fluid pressure cylinders it? may be provided in the press frame for guiding piston elements connected as shown at H to the slide H for effecting a desired count-erbalancing effect.

The crank shaft 26 is provided at each end with a gear 12. Each gear l2 meshes with a pinion 13 provided on either end of the transverse shaft 14 which is suitably journaled in end bearings 75 on the rear of the press frame, and journalled in an intermediate bearing 16, shown in Fig. 2. Adjacent the bearing 16 is a drive gear 71 which is fixed to the shaft 14 and operated in a suitable manner by a driving motor provided on the rear of the press. Opposite ends of the crank shaft are therefore driven equally and symmetrically from the source of power.

Just inside of each gear 72, the crank shaft is provided with an eccentric portion adapted for cooperating with an eccentric strap 78. Each eccentric strap has a main body portion and a head portion 79 which surrounds the eccentric on the crank shaft, the two portions being detachably fixed together by suitable bolts. The two eccentric straps 18 extend down along the outer sides of the press frame sides and are connected, as will be more fully described, to a lower die carrying slide designated generally by the press bed plate may be .5 all moved in proper. timed relationship...The

curve 88A in Fig. 8 indicatesthe relative. timing of the slide 88 with respect to the slides I1 and I9.

The lower slide 88 is mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement in an opening 8| in the I4. Removably supported in the press bed are one or more beams or walls 82 theend portions of which are vertically slidable in grooves or guides 83 with which the bedis provided; Near the end portion of the bed are additional beams 15 or walls 84 also vertically guided so'they maybe upwardly removed from the press bed. Thesides of the press bed and the beams 82 and 84.:are adapted for the support of ma bolster plate 85, a portion of which is shown in Fig. 4. v This bolster provided with holes or openings through which the usual pins leading up to. a lower die can be moved in accordance with the movement of the lower slide 88. The lowerr'ends, of the operating pins, may be engaged and operated by the plate sections 88 which are vertically guided in the press bed and in the removable beams 82 and 84. In Fig. 3 one of these plate. sections 88 is shown partially broken awayto disclose one of the stools. orblocks 81 one of which is provided for the support of each of the plate sections 88. The several stools 8I arereceived on and secured to a, pair of stool brackets 88. and 89 which are connected by bolts 92 to one another and to the central rib 98 ofa main body member 9| of the slide 88. The total length of each of the stool brackets 88 and 89 is somewhat less than the distance between the side frame members I2 and I3 of the press so that the stool brackets can be taken off toward the front and rear ofthe press as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5 when the lower slide is removed upwardly from the pressbed, as will be more fully explained.

The main body partp9I of the lower slide is rather narrow as shown in Fig. 5, but has a length exceeding the distance between the frame sides I2 and I8, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, since the ends of this body member are operated bythe eccentric straps 18 which extend down along the outer sides of the press frame. The press frame 5 sides I2 and I3, however, are each provided with an opening 93 which extends high enough up from the press bed, and which is wide enough in ahori; zontal direction, to accommodate the maximum height and width of the body portion 9| of slide 55 88 when the latter is removed upwardly from its This a ran er,

normal position in the press bed. ment greatly facilitates assembly anddisassembly of the lower slide in the press bed, as it does not require a large space below the bed for the recep- 60 tion of the lower slide when the latter is being removed from the bed. In accordance with the present invention when it is desired to remove the lower slide 88 as for replacement or repair purposes, the bolster plate 85 is removed fromthe bed 5 and the removable beams or walls 82 and 84 are withdrawn. The beam 94, which connects the body portion 8| to the pistons 95 operating in the counterbalancing fluid pressure cylinders 98 fixed on the bed, is then disconnected from.

70 the body portion 9 I The connection between the eccentric straps I8 and the end portions of the slide 88 are also disconnected, for example, by

first separating the bolted connection between the central portion of strap 18 and the upper, 75 or eccentric portion I9 thereof. ,The slide is then moved upwardly fromitsnormal position in the bedof the press, the. stools 81 and their upper plates 88 being taken oif so that the upward movementof the slide 88 may be continued until the stool brackets 88 and 89 are positioned ata level above the top of the press bed. These parts 88 and89 are then disconnected from one another and from the rib 98 of the slide body and then withdrawn toward the front and back of the press. This leaves the body portion SI of the lowerslide which is then moved up still further untilits'lower end projects above the top of the press bed. As its total width and height can be accommodated in the openings 93 in the sides of the press frame, it is'then a simple matter to move-the body member 9I in the direction of its length and take it off entirely, through the opening in one ofthe frame sides. In-rep'lacing the slide, the procedure above outlined is followed by a reverse .order.

As herein shown, the normal, limiting positions of movement of the lower slide may be adjusted, the lower'end of each eccentric strap being con-; nected pivotally to an adjustable post 98. The threads 99 on this post are engaged by internal threads on a sleeve I88 which may be rotated by a bevel gear I8I which-meshes with a bevel pinion I82. suitable gearing including gearv I83 having a geared connection to a gear I84, geared in turn to a shaft I85 which extends across the front of the lower portion of the bed. The shaft I85 is turned by a suitable motor I88. The shaft I85 extends similarly to opposite sides of the pressso as to operate the two bevel gears I8I at the same time and similar amounts, so that the positions of the two adjustable posts 98 can be simultaneously adjusted with respect to the slide 88. In effecting removal of the lower slide from its normal housed position in the press bed the motor and the various movable elements connecting the motor I88 to tion, it is to be understood that the invention notlimited to this precise form of apparatus, and

that changes may be made therein without de-.

parting from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A drawing press comprising a frame, first and second die slides slidably mounted in said frame, toggle means for operating said first slide, toggle means for operating said second slide, a crank shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, means operably connecting saidcrank shaft at a point between itsends means, and means entirely devoid of slide members and constituted entirely of pivotally connected arms and links operably connecting said crank shaft to the other of said toggle means.

2. A drawing press comprising a frame, first and second die slides slidably mounted in said frame, toggle means for operating said first slide, toggle means for operating said second slide, a crank shaft, toggle operating means connecting the crank shaft to one of said toggle means, toggle operating means connecting the crank shaft to the other toggle means, said toggle operating means both being entirely devoidof slide members and constituted. entirely of pivotally conto one of said toggle nected arms and links .and both being symmetrically connected with respect to the center of the crank shaft.

3. A drawing press comprising a frame, first and second die slides slidably mounted in said frame, toggle means for operating said firstslide, toggle means for operating said second slide, an operating shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, means operably connecting the center of said shaft to one of said toggle means, means entirely devoid of slide members and constituted entirely of pivotally connected arms and links operably connecting said shaft at points equally spaced from its center to the other of said toggle means, a third die slide slidably mounted in said frame, and arms symmetrically connecting opposite end portions of said shaft directly to said third slide.

4. A drawing press comprising a frame, a crank shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, a die slide slidably mounted in said frame, a pair of rock shafts rotatably mounted in said frame, toggle means connecting said rock shafts to said slide, an arm rigid with each rock shaft, a lever pivotally supported on the frame, a link connection between said lever at opposite sides of the axis of pivotal support of the lever and extending to each of said arms, a second lever pivoted on said frame, a link connection between said levers, and an arm operably connecting said second lever to said crank shaft.

5. A drawing press comprising a frame, a crank shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, a die slide slidably mounted in said frame, four individual rock members mounted in said frame, a

' toggle connection between each rock member and said slide, a pair of levers oscillatably mounted in said frame, link connections between each lever and a pair of said rock members, and an operating connection between each of said levers and said crank shaft and provided at equal distances from the crank shaft center.

6. A drawing press comprising a frame, first and second die slides slidably mounted in said frame and operating with dwells in their movements, a

" pair of rock shafts mounted in said frame, a pair.

of toggle connections between each rock shaft and said first slide, a pair of rock members adjacent each rock shaft, a toggle connection between each rock member and said second slide, a crank shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, means connecting the center of the crank shaft to bothsaid rock shafts, a pair of oscillatable double armed levers mounted in said frame, means connecting each of said levers to said crank shaft at points symmetrically spaced from the center thereof, and four links each connecting an end of one of said levers to one of said rock members.

7. A drawing press comprising a frame, first and second upper die slides mounted for reciprocatory movement in said frame, a crank shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, toggle means for operating each of said slides, means entirely devoid of slide members and constituted entirely of pivotally connected arms and links symmetrically connecting said crank shaft to both said toggle means, a lower die slide mounted for reciprocatory movement, in said frame, and arms extending downwardly from end portions of said crank shaft and connected at their lower ends directly to said lower slide for reciprocating the same in timed relation with the movement of said,

upper slides.

8. In a drawing press, a frame, two die slides movable in the frame towards effective positions in the same direction relatively to the press, a pair of rock shafts mounted in said frame, a crank shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, an operating connection between said crank shaft and said rock shafts, toggle connections between saidrock shafts and one of said slides, rock members concentric with said rock shafts and provided adjacent both ends of the rock shafts, operating means for said rock members connected to points symmetrically spaced from the center of said crank shaft and entirely devoid of slide members and constituted entirely of pivotally connected arms and links, toggle connections between said rock members and the other slide, a third die slide mounted in said frame and movable towards an effective position in a direction opposed to the movement of said first mentioned slides, and operating connections symmetrically connecting end portions of said crank shaft to said third slide.

9. A press comprising a frame having a bed and side frame members extending upwardly from said bed, an operating shaft rotatably mounted in an upper portion of said frame, an upper slide operated by said shaft, a lower slide movable in the bed of the press, operating connections from end portions of said shaft to said lower slide, said lower slide having a length exceeding the distance between said frame members and said frame members having openings receiving end portions of said lower slide, the lower slide being removable upwardly from said bed and having a long body portion removable in the direction of its length through one of said openings.

10. A press comprising a frame having a bed and having opposed side frame members extending upwardly from said bed, a slide operably mounted in said bed and comprising a main body portion having a length greater than the dis tance between said frame members, said slide being removable upwardly from said bed and said frame members having openings in which the ends of said body portion are receivable when said slide is removed upwardly from the bed, said body portion being removable in the direction of its length through one of said openings.

11. A press comprising a frame having a bed and having opposed side frame members extending upwardly from said bed, a slide operably mounted in said bed and comprising a main body portion having a length greater than the distance between said frame members, means extending upwardly along the outer sides of said frame members for operating said slide, said frame members having openings in which the ends of said body portion are receivable when said slide is removed upwardly from the bed and through which the body portion is endwise removable from the press.

12. A press comprising a frame having a bed and having opposed side frame members extending upwardly from said bed, a slide operably mounted in said bed, said slide having a main body portion defining the slide length and having a top portion removably fixed to said body portion and removable from between the frame members of the press when the slide is raised up from th( bed, said frame members having an opening at least as large in height and width as the height and width of said body portion through which said body portion is endwise removable from the press.

13. In a press, a bed having a removable beam adapted to be withdrawn upwardly from said bed, a frame member extending upwardly from said bed at one side thereof and having an opening therein, a slide mounted in said bed below said beam, said bed having an opening in which said slide is mounted and through which the slide can be withdrawn upwardly after removal of said beam, said slide having a body member defining the length of the slide and capable of endwise movement through the opening in said frame member, and driving means for said slide connected to an end portion thereof outwardly of the frame member.

14. A drawing press comprising a frame, first and second die slides slidably mounted in said frame, toggle means for operating said first slide, toggle means for operating said second slide, a crank shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, all of said toggle means operating in planes transverse to the crank shaft axis, means operably connecting said crank shaft at a point between its ends to one of said toggle means, and means entirely devoid of slide members and constituted entirely of pivotally connected arms and links operably connecting said crank shaft to the other 10 of said toggle means.

ARTHUR A. BYERLEIN. 

